Station Cortez rescues 3 from sinking vessel

May 17th, 2010 · Comments Off on Station Cortez rescues 3 from sinking vessel

CORTEZ, Fla. – A Coast Guard Station Cortez boat crew rescued three boaters from a sinking 27-foot Bayliner seven miles west of Big Sarasota Pass, Fla., at about noon Monday.

Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla. watchstanders received a call at 11:45 a.m. reporting that a vessel with three people aboard was taking on water and that the boat was rapidly sinking.

A 25-foot rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cortez immediately launched to assist in the rescue. Station Cortez crewmembers removed Paul Nolan, Leo Kollman and Bill Carney from the sinking Bayliner and transported them to Sea Tow crewmembers. Sea Tow will salvage the vessel. No injuries were reported.

With National Safe Boating Week quickly approaching, the Coast Guard reminds all boaters that in the event of a maritime emergency, the use of a float plan, VHF radio, life jackets and an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon are critical on the waterways